Emile founded the Delahaye Automobile Manufacturing Company in the French town of Tours in 1894 where he manufactured engines used by ceramics producers, and built an internal combustion engine in 1888. In 1896 Emile Delahaye won the Paris-Marseilles race in his own car. In 1901 Emile left for reasons of ill health and renamed it 'Societe des Automobiles Delahaye'. From 1901 to 1954 Charles Weiffenbach managed Delahaye and eschewed competition activities in favour of dependable vehicles, not only in the car market but also as commercial and utility vehicles. In 1935 Delahaye merged with Delage and Delage models became little more than be-badged Delahayes. Hotchkiss bought out Delage-Delahaye in 1954 and the factory closed in 1956.